Kerala - v. close to Paradise

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Kerala - also known as God's Own Country (along with Yorkshire in England) and they both are !

We are now plotting our own route and are finding the most wonderful places. After arriving in Cochin, we picked up a pre paid taxi at the airport and drove 55 kms for 10 pounds to a homestay.

We stayed at Olivipe Homestay which was great and the family really hospitable.

Deep in the heart of the backwaters, it is so perfect that you could't dream it up. Prawn farms and lazy canoeing with coconut groves and joyous local festivals plus caparisoned elephants galore. The people are lovely and Kerala is one large continuous village with nice houses and sleek cattle. Carol milked a cow yesterday and will be persuading Nicky Rowles that we could house one with her chooks, ducks and geese. So tranquil that we slowed right down and are now back on the road touring Kerala. Went to Fort Cochin and really impressed with it. Currently in Alleppy and considering a houseboat.

We will update the blog with Goa etc and some pictures when our files and a website manage to come together - in the meantime love to all

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